Monday, January 14, 2019

I have viewed this scene under thousands of different atmospheric and weather conditions. It's the view you have on the ferry heading to Edmonds from Kingston. I'm often struck dumb by the beauty of the area I am blessed to live in, but fortunately I had my camera the day this cloud formation was blowing in from the south and had the presence of mind to take a shot.The photograph through the salty ferry windows was not all that great....but the painting turned out okay because I could remember the light and the feel of the wind and the smell of the salt air...

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Grabbed a handful of old photos as I ran out the door to attend the Mitch Baird workshop. This shot of the Sol Duc was one of them. I had been wanting to paint it for awhile so was glad I brought it. The techniques that Mitch was sharing with us really helped me solve some problems of simplifying shapes and harmonizing color. For example he had us try to "posterize shapes at the start of the painting. Basically wash in the big shapes with a relative value color of the shape,whether warm or cool..(You can do more research on this technique online). That was helpful! After I filled in the shapes it was easy to model the subtle value and temperature shifts within the shapes as long as you retain the overall value of the respective shape.

Friday, January 04, 2019

I recently took a Mitch Baird workshop who I highly recommend as an instructor. The workshop focused primarily on value and color. He specifically did not talk much about drawing or composition since those disciplines are a given in producing a quality painting. I loved this workshop! I filled a few pages of my sketchbook with notes that I will not go over here....You should take your own Mitch Baird workshop!... But one color tip that really helped me get the distant mountain granite color was mixing the right amounts of Viridian and Alizerin Crimson. They make a nice juicy grey! He also drilled into us the right time to use the warm and cool primaries that should make up the foundation of your palette.

We worked from photos in this class because of the winter weather but I used a sketch done during my brief visit to Grand Teton National Park this summer. I wanted to see how I could do with just the sketch and no photo reference.

I have started making my own sketchbooks from 90lb cover stock which I like for sketching in graphite but is also heavy enough for water media. Let me know if you would like one! I'll send you more info.
Thanks and happy sketching!!

Wednesday, January 02, 2019

Grand Teton National Park has become one of my favorite places to paint! I had a chance to spend a few days there last year on my way to the Central City plein air festival in Colorado. I only had time to paint a couple plein air studies this time but I did a lot of sketching and took a lot of reference photos which I have been working on and will post in the coming days.
While painting this I was surrounded by tourists....which can be unnerving ,,,but if you plan on doing competition painting it is important to get used to people watching you paint. The best way is to get out and paint in a crowded area when there is no pressure to make a great painting. You will be surprised how much encouragement you will receive from passerby
I'm realizing again how far behind I am on the blog as it is 2019 already!! ....and I have lots of adventures in 2018 to post about....yikes!

Monday, December 17, 2018

"Fall Leaves with Persimmon and Silver 10x10 oil on panelAvailable at the Cole Gallery

Next in the Persimmon Series. This one is available at the Cole Gallery in Edmonds, WA. I never get enough of trying to render the reflections in silver objects and especially this teapot!
Metal objects are great subjects to practice drawing and painting. They sort of force you to do close observation of value, color and edge work. When I am teaching in the studio I always make my students practice on an old camp coffee pot.....Pull yours out and give it a try....=]

Friday, December 14, 2018

My friend Ruth gave me a handful of persimmons. I love persimmons!...to paint that is. The rich red/orange color makes great reflections and sings against the cool greys of silver objects. I pulled out my vintage silver set to do a series of still life paintings. I added the red dish to enhance the color intensity.
It's winter now outside the studio window....cold rain and wind..Perfect time to stay in and create! Hope your doing the same!

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

I took a drive earlier this fall to the Finnriver Farm and Cidery after reading about it in the newspaper. It's a very cool combination farm,cidery,pizza restaurant,community gathering place and more!! The gardens even this late in the season had beautiful sunflowers blooming but what caught my attention were these honkers! They are fenced in between the rows of orchard trees to pick bugs and slugs and leave fertilizer. Great idea!

This little goose painting sold at Arts in the Woods Studio Tour this year. If you didn't get a chance to make it you can always come next year!! Always the second weekend in November! Check out the Cultural Arts Website to find out more about AITW!

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

They say the bee population is suffering these days but the apple crop this year was epic! As soon as the sun comes out I grab the go bag and head to the field to try and capture the apples that seem to glow like Christmas lights against the greys of fall.
It can be a bit complicated to pick out a pleasing arrangement amid the cornucopia of abundance but you just have to make a stand and get to work. After studying this group of apples I realized the cast shadow on the one apple was drawing my attention. I very loosely rendered the surrounding branches to keep the apples as the main attraction.

My next post will include the painting I did from this tree which is another one loaded down with fruit this year.

If you happen to be in the Pacific Northwest in December consider coming to the Plein Air Washington Artists end of the year show at the American Art Company.The Show is called The Journey and will be made up of a studio painting inspired by a plein air painting.
For more info on dates and times go to the PAWA page HERE

Monday, November 19, 2018

This is the last work from the 2017 Fall Paintings folder that were not posted in 2017! The Red Barn sits right next door to the Knowles Studio where I work. It's fun to watch it change through the seasons but I like it best in the fall with the changing color of the trees.

Someday like most of the old barns in our area it will succumb to time and weather. It's nice to preserve their character on canvas.

Thursday, November 15, 2018

It is still fall and I have been painting fall scenes. Mostly the apples since the trees are loaded with winter apples this season, but these poplars all aglow in the late afternoon light were painted last year in 2017. Like I said in the last post, I came across a folder of paintings that were never posted so I am trying to catch up.
These poplars are in the field next door to the studio. I didn't have to go far to capture their color. They were just as spectacular this year ....but I had to paint the apples!! Stay tuned to see all my fall paintings and more news from In Plein Air. =]

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

I always find out how many paintings that were never posted to my blog after Arts in the Woods, when I go into my gallery page on Daily Paintworks to mark them sold. This one was in a folder of fall paintings done in 2017 and I never posted most of them!

I love Port Gamble and especially in the fall. Many of the trees planted in this town are eastern species common to the builders who arrived from back east to establish a mill and logging community. This scene had a little girl playing with her dog, throwing leaves in the air while I was painting. I may try another studio painting with them in it.. =]

Thursday, November 01, 2018

I went back to Angel Crest Gardens in Port Angeles to capture this scene . I think it was the last painting I did during Paint the Peninsula 2018. I'm looking forward to going back again next year!
A great event with a great team of organizers who make it fun and successful every year!

Monday, October 29, 2018

Not a bad place to set up and paint on a hot summer day....and it was hot! The shady, old growth, big leaf maples at the Elwha River park entrance has nice picnic tables, a bathroom and even a waterfall within a short walk....Whats not to love about this spot! I end up here to paint every year during PTP and even taught a workshop here last year. If your trying to find it using google maps type in Madison Falls.. =]

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Almost every plein air painting event has some form of "quick draw" . During Paint the Peninsula 2018 the quick paint was scheduled for 3 hours so I had time to do 2 paintings. "Friends was the second one. These two girls were talking on a park bench near "Hollywood Beach" in Port Angeles. I pulled out a 6x8 panel to capture them quick before they walked off...

Our designated area was near City Park. I did this one under cover of the bandstand. There was still a haze in the air from all the wildfires occurring in Olympic National Park and as far away as Canada.

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Hey all, Taking a break from posting Paint the Peninsula stuff to get the word out again about our upcoming studio tour, "Arts in the Woods" Artists around North Kitsap will have their studios spiffed up and ready for visitors like you to come and and see all the new local artwork! This painting along with many others will be on display.

AITW 2018

The Knowles Studio is included and will be a great one to start off your tour of all the great creative spaces in the Kitsap area.

Owned by Jim and Leigh Metteer This gorgeous studio is a space for artists to immerse themselves in the positive therapy of making art.

The studio will be open to the public during Arts in the Woods , Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 9th, 10th and 11th 2018 from 10am -5pm

Stop by and see what we have been up to and get the AITW brochure of all the other studios

Thursday, October 18, 2018

I was glad when PTP organizers decided to expand the boundaries that artists are allowed to paint during the event. It now includes another favorite place, the historic seaside community of Port Townsend, WA. I picked a sunny day to do some urban painting which is always fun in PT.

I often donate images of my paintings of Port Townsend to be included in the Gathering Place yearly calendar project which raises funds for this great cause.

This year I have two paintings of PT in the calendar.

Check out the Gathering Place website to find out all the great things they do for the developmentally disabled youth and adults in our community.

Friday, October 12, 2018

Another scene from Second Beach on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State painted during Paint the Peninsula 2018. This year was a mixed bag as far as weather was concerned. The fog kept moving in and out making it difficult to decide on what atmosphere to base the mood of your design. That is one reason I pulled out a 6x8 panel for this painting. I was able to capture the scene quickly before everything changed again. The fog simplifies the shapes, removes detail and reduces values so that you can have fun just designing. After this one I clambered over the driftwood and headed back up the trail to do a few paintings at the Quilute Marina in LaPush.

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Every year during Paint the Peninsula artists take the mile long trail down to one of the most beautiful scenic beaches in Washington State. Second Beach in LaPush is a constant inspiration for me! I have learned that I can go to the same spot each year on SB and enjoy a different composition of driftwood and atmospheric drama. It is a challenge to compose and simplify piles of driftwood but once you get good at it the design potential is endless..

You can use those skills and apply them to other complex scenes where the details can overwhelm you, such as this marina with hundreds of boats diminishing in the distance.

If you look closely you see all that confusion reduced to pieces of paint with just a few boats in any real detail.

One boat should become the "star of the show" or the focal point.

Here are a few of the paintings I have done on Second Beach from past PTP competitions;

Tuesday, October 09, 2018

If all else fails you can always find a good painting subject at the boatyards in Port Angeles . I walked around this old relic a few times before deciding to compose my painting from the back where the name of the boat was prominent in the design. I learned later this steel fishing boat was cobbled together from several different boats which gave it dramatic character and probably its name...

It also won the Best Wheels , Motors and Sails award! Thanks juror Eric Jacobsen!

A few reminders; Arts in the Woods Studio Tour is coming up November 9,10,11 . Always the second week in November! Stop by and see a lot of the work I have been creating over the past year and visit with all the artists at the Knowles Studio on Noll rd. in Poulsbo, WA. The coffee will be on!

He was also participating in Paint the Peninsula 2018. It is always more fun to paint with other artists so we set up together and spent the afternoon capturing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Most artists on their first visit to Salt Creek want to paint the iconic off shore island. I have painted it so many times that I was looking for other subjects that inspired me. This young boy exploring the beach did it!

All of the artists and their paintings completed during Paint the Peninsula 2018 can be viewed and purchased until November 2018 on the Port Angeles Fine Art Center website. Click HERE to view

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Angel Crest Gardens was another new discovery for me this year at Paint the Peninsula. I saw a splash of color as I passed by on highway 112 headed north and had to turn around to check it out. Turns out this quaint farm had been closed for a season while the owners cared for a ailing parent
who passed in the spring.

The gate was open so I walked in immediately seeing that this was a place I wanted to paint! The owner, Linda, graciously allowed me the run of the place and even picked a beautiful bouquet of flowers for my host family. Her dogs Lily and Cara kept me company while I painted.

I picked a spot that had a driveway bordered by glorious dahlias and fall flowers to paint. The home in the background was where Lindas mom lived.

I named the painting Angeles Rest. It seemed that peaceful and joyful a spot to me.

Monday, September 17, 2018

It has been a month since I wrote a blog post and a lot has happened! I'm way behind again! During that time I participated in Paint the Peninsula, The Winslow Plein Air Festival and taught a workshop in Sekiu Washington.

Paint the Peninsula 2018 was my sixth year participating in this great event. As always, the best thing about these competitions is reconnecting with old painting buddies and meeting new ones. The shared camaraderie in plein air painting makes it so much more fulfilling than just painting pictures.

I started off on Saturday looking for a spot to warm up that I haven't painted before. Heading towards Salt Creek I noticed Elwah River Road and turned off to see where it ended up. Not too far down the road it went across a newly constructed bridge with a pedestrian deck below the main road and amazing views of the river and mountains behind. Perfect! I did my first two paintings. One from the bridge deck and one from the river looking towards the bridge.

Wednesday, August 01, 2018

I have traveled through the towns of Sultan and Gold Bar many times on my way over Stevens Pass in Western Washington State. Every trip over I wish there was time to stop. Earlier in the spring, Maury and I made a special trip just to paint in the area. We started off at Wallace Falls and then stopped at a farm along the road.
Every landscape painting is an exercise in atmospheric depth. As objects recede in the distance they lose yellow and become bluer. It's tricky to get that transition.You have to use color and edge to get it right.....I gave this scene my best shot at it...